Overview

• Informal talks in Brussels explore admitting candidates on day one without national veto powers, with full voting rights granted after institutional changes.
• Backers frame the approach as a way to keep enlargement moving for countries such as Ukraine, Moldova and Montenegro while limiting future decision-making deadlock.
• Any change would need the consent of all 27 governments and faces opposition from Hungary as well as skepticism in France and the Netherlands over curbing vetoes.
• Pro-enlargement capitals including Austria and Sweden support the concept, and German lawmaker Anton Hofreiter advocates a temporary veto waiver linked to wider use of qualified majority voting.
• The European Commission’s upcoming enlargement package is expected to sketch internal reform options, and one EU diplomat floated streamlining negotiations without seeking unanimous approval at every step.